Written Question · S1W-23758 · Session 1
Further to the answer to question S1W-22850 by Mary Mulligan on 21 February 2002, whether the statement by the Royal National Institute for…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22850 by Mary Mulligan on 21 February 2002, whether the statement by the Royal National Institute for Deaf people that "only 1.4% of people in Scotland who need a hearing aid have access to free digital aids on the NHS" is correct and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
The answer
Digital hearing aids are amongst a wide range of hearing aids available on the central contract, negotiated for NHSScotland. The figure quoted by Royal National Institute for Deaf people relates to the number of digital hearing aids, that were actually drawn off the contract during a specific period, expressed as a percentage of the total number of hearing aids drawn off the contract. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22823 on 21 February 2002, which gives details of the Good Practice Guidance, issued by the Executive on Adult Hearing and Fitting Services and provides advice on circumstances in which digital hearing aids should be provided by NHSScotland. The decision on who should be given a digital aid, is a matter for the clinician involved.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-23758 by reference.